Solid phase environmental sampler

Abstract

A rugged solid-phase extractant device is used to quantify or remove analytes from a variety of fluid environments.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . An apparatus for extracting an analyte from a fluid environment comprising: 
 a solid phase sorbent for extracting an analyte from a fluid contacting the solid phase; and    a substantially rigid hollow housing for retaining the solid phase; wherein the housing comprises one or more openings that are of a size to enable fluid from the fluid environment to enter and contact the solid phase sorbent, but not to enable the solid phase sorbent to exit the housing.    
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the sorbent is particulate, and wherein the housing further comprises a screen in which the openings have a diameter smaller than a size of the particulate sorbent.  
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the sorbent is selected from the list in Table 1.  
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the sorbent is polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS).  
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the sorbent comprises a sheet.  
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the sorbent is coated on a sheet.  
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the sorbent sheet is rolled into a cylindrical spiral that is inserted into the hollow housing.  
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the housing comprises a stainless steel support frame.  
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the housing further comprises a loop to connect the housing to a tether.  
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the sorbent is selected to bind to an analyte selected from the group consisting of a chemical warfare agent, a polychlorinated biphenyl, a petroleum hydrocarbon, an herbicide, a pesticide, a polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon, a drug, or a heavy metal.  
     
     
         11 . A method of extracting an analyte from a fluid environment, the method comprising 
 obtaining an apparatus of  claim 1;     introducing the apparatus into the fluid environment for a period of time sufficient for any analyte in the fluid environment to be bound to the sorbent in the apparatus;    removing the apparatus from the fluid environment; and    removing the analyte from the sorbent, thereby extracting the analyte from the fluid environment.    
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the fluid environment is water.  
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the fluid environment is an ocean.  
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the fluid environment is air.  
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the period of time is one to seven days.  
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the analyte is a pollutant, and the fluid environment is in the vicinity of a source of the pollutant.  
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the analyte is a chemical warfare agent, a polychlorinated biphenyl, a petroleum hydrocarbon, an herbicide, a pesticide, a polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon, a drug, or a heavy metal.  
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the sorbent is selected from the list in Table 1.  
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the sorbent is polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS).